The Locker Room September 30, 2009

Pulaski County has faced some tough opponents so far this season, but the toughest team on the schedule will be arriving this Friday night as the Amherst County Lancers travel back to Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium to face the Cougars. 

Hello again Cougar fans, and welcome back to another week at cougarfootball.net.  It was tough to get this weeks article started, for more reasons than one.  First, I think a lot of people are still stinging from last week’s loss to the William Fleming Colonels.  I think everyone knew that they were good, and most people didn't even give the Cougars a chance in the game.  Pulaski surprised a few folks by hanging tough for three quarters, but the size, speed, and experience of the Colonels eventually wore down the young Cougar defense and put up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to put the issue to rest.  The results could have been worse, but Pulaski County fought hard.  Fleming also hurt themselves somewhat with three 15-yard penalties in the third quarter.  The Colonels finished the game with a 35-17 win over the Cougars. 

The second reason this article was tough to get started is who we are playing.  Amherst County comes into this week’s game with a spotless 4-0 record.  They have beaten Tabb High School 66-12, Heritage 41-6, G.W. Danville 41-0, and Liberty 49-20.   They are currently the #2 team in the MaxPreps.com Virginia rankings, behind defending Division 6 champion Oscar Smith and ahead of defending Division 5 champion Phoebus.  They are loaded with athletes, and they are extremely fast.  They have several players who will play at the college level.  They are well coached, they have a very passionate fan base that supports them well, and they are the three time defending Region III Champions.  They won the AA Division 4 State Title in 1995, 2006, and 2007 before finally falling in the State Championship game last season.  They lost last year’s State Championship game to Broad Run, one week after a monster of a battle on the very field they will meet on again this Friday night. 

53 seconds. 

After an interception late in the fourth quarter, Amherst's Anthony Rose took the ball into the end zone from one yard out with 53 seconds left on the clock, and the Cougars were unable to answer.  It's been said by some that Amherst limped back home that day, and the physical battle they fought that cold Saturday afternoon may have cost them the chance to be the three time State Champions.  Either way, the Cougars dream season ended that day, and with the end of that season the Cougars saw a large number of key players graduate.  Amherst County did not. 

The Amherst Lancers roster lists 42 players.  Of those, 18 are seniors. 21 are juniors, and 2 are sophomores.  Just so you know, those two sophomores are NOT listed very high on their depth chart.  While the offensive and defensive lines are not huge, they are fast and they are able.  One of the biggest problems that the Lancers are facing this season seems to be whether they want their quarterback, #1 Anthony Rose, to be the quarterback all the time or if they want to use another player, #8 Kirby Anderson as their quarterback and free up Rose to play wide receiver.  The Lancers are blessed with a couple of speedy and tough running backs that are a threat to break off a long run on any play.  Defensively Amherst uses their speed to get to the ball like no other team that the Cougars have or most likely will face this season.  The Lancers also play tough on special teams.  Their kickoff and punt return teams are exciting to watch, and #23 Mario Vaughan is their key return man.  The Lancers normally get very good field position from his return skills. 

It's gonna be a tough night for Pulaski County.  With that said, it is not an impossible task.  One of the weakest spots this year for Pulaski County has been the line.  Amherst's line is not a dominating line, and the Cougars could actually match up well with them.  The biggest question is going to be if the Cougars can swarm to the ball and stop the Lancers before they break free and put all that speed to use.  The question is going to be if the Cougar linebackers, ends, and secondary can catch up IF the line can’t get to the Lancers before they get started.   On the offensive side of the ball, Pulaski would need to play ball control, and keep the Lancers offense off the field.  The offensive line will have to work together and help the Cougar backs get four to five yards per carry. 

There can be no turnovers, there can be no penalties, and there can be no breakdowns.  The Cougars will have to hit hard, tackle well, hold on to the ball, and take the ball away from Amherst at every opportunity.  Not too many people are giving the Cougars a chance in this match up, because they don't believe that Pulaski County can do those things.  Most people don't think that the Cougars have what it takes this season to beat a team like Amherst.  Most people don't think the Cougars have what it takes to get the job done. 

I do. 

Win, lose, or draw this Friday night, Pulaski County needs to put something together to give them some much needed confidence as they prepare to head into their district games next week.   This Pulaski County High School Cougar football team is NOT a bad team.  They have faced some tough opponents, they are young, and they need some internal leaders to step up.... but they are not a bad team.   Let's stay behind our kids as they fight through a tough season.  Let's get out there on Friday night and pack the stadium as the Cougars face the Lancers in the last out of district contest for Pulaski County this season. 

GO COUGARS!!!  BEAT THE LANCERS!!!